F1 Barcelona Test 2018, Session 3 – Day 2: Bottas confirms leadership and ends these tests in Spain in command

After the leadership achieved during the morning, Valtteri Bottas also managed to end the afternoon session in command, concluding this last day of in-season testing on the Spanish track in the best possible way. Mercedes, during the afternoon hours, preferred to concentrate on high fuel load simulations, testing a lot with soft and super soft tyres.

It should also be underlined that some new parts have been fitted to the car, including the smokestack on the bonnet in anticipation of the Monaco GP. The Finn stopped the clock at 1'16"904, sixty-eight thousandths faster than Antonio Giovinazzi. The Italian, precisely in this sense, the excellent performance of the 2 GP2016 vice champion, author of 148 laps without any errors. “Giovi” concentrated his work in the afternoon on the new features in anticipation of Monte Carlo, not trying to attack the time when the track conditions lent themselves to full power laps. A very positive two days which we are sure will relaunch his chances for 2019.

Followed by Lando Norris, author of the third fastest time at the end of the session, Kevin Magnussen, Nikita Mazepin and Jack Aitken. It should be noted that the first two, due to technical problems, caused two red flags during the afternoon. Completing the top are Charles Leclerc, Robert Kubica (author of 123 laps. ed.), Pierre Gasly and Stoffel Vandoorne. Eleventh is the new Jack Dennis. See you in two weeks for the historic Monaco Grand Prix catwalk.

1 77 V. Bottas (SB) Mercedes 1’16″904
2 50 A. Giovinazzi (HB) Ferrari 1’16″972
3 47 L. Norris McLaren 1’18″039
4 20 K. Magnussen (HB) Haas 1’18″274
5 34 N. Mazepin (HB) Force India 1'18″344
6 J. Aitken Renault 1'18″942
7 16 C. Leclerc Sauber 1’18″993
8 40 R. Kubica (HB) Williams 1’19″253
9 10 P. Gasly Toro Rosso 1’19″410
10 2 S. Vandoorne McLaren (P) 1’19″914
11 J. Dennis Red Bull 1'20"440
12 38 S. Gelael Toro Rosso 1’20″763
13 N. Latifi Force India (P) 1'21"412